UCLA’s Mick Cronin apologizes for his behavior during Michigan State loss

UCLA’s Mick Cronin apologizes for his behavior during Michigan State loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin issued a lengthy apology Friday after ejecting his own player during a blowout loss earlier this week, acknowledging he misread the situation and allowed his emotions to spill over.

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Cronin said he apologized directly to center Steven Jamerson after sending him to the locker room late in the Bruins’ 82-59 loss to Michigan State Spartans men’s basketball on Tuesday night.

Cronin believed at the time that Jamerson had committed a dirty play when he fouled Michigan State center Carson Cooper on a breakaway dunk with UCLA trailing by more than 20 points.

“It’s the only reason I sent him to the locker room,” Cronin told reporters via SoCal News Group. “I thought he literally made a dirty play and tried to wipe the guy out. … You can’t be down 25 or getting your butt kicked and try to take somebody out.”

After reviewing the tape and hearing public criticism, Cronin said he realized he was wrong. Jamerson was called for a foul and assessed a technical, as was Cooper following the play.

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But before officials could review it further, Cronin summoned Jamerson to the bench, grabbed his jersey and escorted him off the floor himself. It was a rare scene that drew national attention.